Well-boring apparatus.



' A. G. WILLARD & C. E. WILCOX.

WELL BORING APPARATUS. APmc floN rl'uz n APlLgB. 1911.

2 SHEETS-SH EET 1.

Patented Aug; 10, 1915.

A. G. WILLARD & C. E. WILCOX.

' WELL BORING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28. I91!- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1,149,486. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

' ran srars are roe ARTHUR G. WILLARD, 0F LOS ANGELES, AND CHARLES E. WILCOX, 0F BAKERSFIELD, CALIFQRNIA; SAID WILCOX ASSIGNOR- T0 WILLIAM W. WILSON, 0F LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA.

WELL-BORING- APPARATUS.

iaaaaee.

Specificatiooeers Patent. Patented Aug. it), 11915.

Application filed April 28, 1911. Serial No. 623,808.

This invention relates to the art of well boring or well drilling, and more'particw larly to well borers which, in standard practice, are provided with-rotary' tops whereby are caused the rotation of the boring tool and the string of pipe sections extending upwardly from the same to the rig-whereby the same is raised and lowered in carrying on the drilling operation.

Numerous means have been devised for causing the actuation of the boring tool and the pipe-section string in the rotation of the rotarytop. These means have in various ways provided for the connection and disconnection of the string of pipe sections fromthe rotary top, -so that thefstri'ng might be raised or lowered, andmade fast to the rotary top, in the drilling operation. Usually, the latter means prevent raising or lowering of the string and the boring tool when the rotary top and the string are in operative connection so that rotation of the top is transmitted to the string and the tool.

According to the present invention, we provide means for operatively connecting the rotary top and the string of pipe sections carrying the boring tool, such means permitting of variation of degree of posiw tiveness of such operative connection, so that under undue or extreme stress brought to bear upon the string and tool, such operative connections will yield in their holding action and permit relative rotary movement between the top and the string and boring tool. 7

\Ve also provide means between the string of pipe sections and the operative connections, for so holding and guiding the string that the string and the boring tool are free to play vertically although locked against rotation relative to the rotation of the rotary top, as long as the aforesaid means of operative connection whereby rotary movement is imparted to the string are. positively acting. The provision of such'means for holding the string and permitting its vertical'movement at all times results in great convenience in conducting the boring operation, as the string and boring tool may be raised or lowered at any point in the boring operation without operatively disconnecting the string'and tool from the top.

The invention has for its object to provide improvements of the general nature above stated whichwill be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, facility in control and op-' eration, positiveness in operation, and freedom from liability to disorder or impairment of its parts and working efficiency, and which will be generally, superior in serviceability and adaptability to varying conditions of use and service.

With the above and other objects in view, and with the above general features ofconstruction and organization entering into the practice of the inve'ntion, the invention con-.

sists in the novel provision, construction, formation, organization, combination and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter describedyshown in the drawings and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings: Figure -1 is a top plan view, partly in section and partly broken away for 'clearness of. illustration, of a rotary top for well vborers organized in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, partially in full lines, taken upon the line 22, Fig. 1, and also of the base upon which the same is mounted for rotation; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of pipe sections modified and organized in accordance with the invention for use in connection with the improved rotary top; Fig. 4 is .a transverse sectional view taken through one of the pipe sections shown in Fig. 3,.upon the line 44, Fig. 3, the showing therein being given a quarter turn from the position shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the pipe sections shown inFig. 3, viewed in the same line of vision as the showing in Fig. 4; and Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views of members of means shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for holding and guiding the pipe sections, and to which the operative connections between the pipe sections and the rotary top are applied in service.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted bythe same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, A designates a rotary table organized in accordance with present practice, or in any preferred manner, and mounted upon rollers 0;, for rotation, B designating means for imparting rotation to the table whlch latter is provided with a rotary table top C organized in accordance with the presen invention.

D designates pipe sections modified and constructed to be used in carrying out the invention.

E designates operative connections whereby rotary motion of the table A is imparted to the pipe sections Dv and the boring tool carried at the lower end thereof.

F designates means disposed between the pipe sections and the operative connections E, such means serving to hold the pipe sections against rotary movement'relative to the rotary movement of the rotary table A when the operative connections E are acting to rotatethepipe sections; said means F permitting vertical movement of the pipe sections.

The present invention 18 not concerned nthe manner of or means for mounting the table A or of imparting rotary motion thereto, but only with the rotary top C comprising the operative connections E, the means F, and the particularly organized and modified pipe section or sections D which coact with the means F.

In carrying the invention into practice, in

one form of organization and embodiment of the same, we provide the usual rotary table A in the form of an annulus, through the central opening of which the pipe sec-.

tions and boring tool are lowered andraised,

and within which central opening the means E and F are installed. The means F com prise two sleeves, 8 and 9 respectively, the

sleeve 9 being provided adjacent to its top ably diametrically opposed provided with vertical spaced and preferrecesses or grooves 12 which receive lateral ribs or bars 13 upon the upper pipe section or sections, in such relation that such pipe section or sections may have vertical play within the sleeve 8, at the same time being prevented from rotation within such. sleeve 8. The upper section or sections D of the string of pipe sections are provided with the ribs or bars 13, preferably diametrically opposed, and such bars 13 may be held in place by curved or approximately semi circular clamps 14. secured to such pipe section or sections eXteriorly, as by countersunk screws 15 or the like; the endsof the clamps 11 are formed into outwardly projecting flanges 16 between which-the bars 13 extending longitudinally of the pipe section are firmly held, as by rivets 17. Preferably two of the pipe sections of standard length are employed, as shown {in Fig. 3,-the same being connected by a union or joint 18, so that a total length of the composite or double section'at the top of the string of sections will be provided to cause operative engagement of such section with the sleeve 8 during the lowering of the string a distance fully equivalent to or more than equal tothe length of one section of the string. The composite section D as above organized is always retained at the upper end of the string, fresh sections being supplied directly beneath it as the boring operation proceeds. 'd designates in each instance the pipe section proper, and 19 designates a oint or union whereby the sections beneath the top composite section D are connected with the latter.

The means E, as shown, for operatively connecting the pipe section D with the rotary table A, through the agencies of the sleeves 8 and 9, comprises a band or strap 20 passed around the smooth outer periphery of the sleeve 9, in a suitable annular chamber 21 formed in the table A, said band or strap being provided at one end with a knuckle 22 which receives a pin 23 seated vertically in the table A and holding the respective end firmly in position; the band or strap 20 beingbifurcated at the same end as shown in Fig. 2, to receive the other end of said band or strap which passes through a headQl formed in the table A between the chamber 21 and a, communicating chamber 25 formed in the table; said latterend of the strap or band 20 being'screw threaded, as at- 26, and there being a nut 27' applied thereto in position to bear upon the head 24. The chamber 25- opens outwardly through the top of the table so that a suitable implement may be applied to the nut 27 to turn the same and cause'the band or strap 20 to be tightened or loosened in its grip upon the sleeve 9.

The pipe sections D, or the sections proper, d, may be of any preferredcross-sectional formation.

The operation, method of use and advantages in the improvements in rotary tops for well borers constituting the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing descriptiomtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement :The string of pipe sections including the composite section D is free to play verticallywithin the sleeve 8, the bars 13, which may be applied to the sections D in any preferred. manner, loosely fitting the grooves 12. But said ribs or bars cause the interlockingof the pipe sections and the sleeve 8 against relative'rotation of the the sleeve 8 which is'interlocked therewith,

and the pipe sections D which are interlockedwith the sleeve 8, insuch union or inter-relation that rotation of the table A is imparted to-the section or sections D and the string and boring tool beneath the same. The said sections and tool are free'to move vertically, so that they may be raised or loweredwithout rotatably disconnecting the same from the table, and so that they will yield vertically under undue stress upon or resistance to the tool. frictional engagement of the band or strap 20 upon the sleeve 9 may be predetermined to the end that the sleeves 8 and 9 and the pipe sectionsand boring tool will be automatically permitted to slip within the grip of the means including the strap or band 20, terminating rotation of the string and tool, during the rotation of the table A, in case a particular degree of undue stress or resistance is brought to bear upon the string and the tool, as by some excessively hard formation or obstruction encountered in the boring operation. The vertical play permitted the string-and the tool, and the permitted slipping of the string and toolwithin the grip of the rotating table, both of which are permitted by the provision of the means, and in the manner, as above described, obviates breakage and other objectionable destruction or disruption or derangement of working parts; and the strmg and tool may at all times be ralsed or lowered, or may rise and fall, as required in Furthermore, the i features herein shown and described; but re serve the right to vary the same, in adapting the improvements tovarying conditions of use, Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the terms of the following claims. a

- Having thus described our invention we claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. In improvements of the character disclosed, a rotary table {and means for connecting the table with a boring device in rotative couple; said means being adjustable with respect to variable strain acting to interrupt such rotative couple during rotation of the table.

2. In improvements of the character disclosed, a rotary table; and means for connecting the table with a boring device in rot'ative couple; said means being adjustable with respect to variable strain acting to interrupt such .rotative couple during rotation of the table, and permitting vertical movement of such boring device with respect to the table when in rotative couple there with.

3. Improvements of the character disclosed, comprising a rotary table, a member formed for rotative connection with a boring device, said member permitting vertical movement of such-boring device, and adj ustable means for yieldingly connecting said member with the rotary table for rotation therewith whereby said rotative connection may be interrupted during rotation of the table and under prescribed strain.

4. Improvements of the character disclosed, comprising a rotary table, a sleeve, means for rotatively connecting a boring device with said sleeve, and adjustable means for yieldingly connecting said sleeve with the rotary table for rotation therewith whereby the rotative connection of the sleeve & 1,149,486

ingly connecting said sleeve with the rotary names to this specification in the presence of table for rotation therewith, said last named tWo subscribing Witnesses. means comprising a strap or band applied.

ARTHUR G. WILLARD. to send sleeve and fixed to sald table at one end and provided at the other end With CHARLES WILCOX' means for varying the frictional engagement Witnesses:

thereof with said sleeve. RAYMOND W. HAKESLEE,

In testimony whereof, we have signed our C. P. WARDEN. 

